Devils at Rangers today, Game 82

Well, here we are again. Game 82, a matinee against an arch-rival, the Rangers hanging by a thread. Only this year, unlike last year, a win guarantees nothing for your heroes.

As you know by now, Buffalo (8-1-2 in its last 11) beat the Flys in OT last night, and Carolina (8-1-1 in its last 10) pummelled Atlanta (gee, who could lose to Atlanta?).

So it is this simple:

The Rangers (10-4-1 in their last 15) need to win today and for Carolina to lose in regulation, overtime or shootout tonight. …

Or …

The Rangers need a point against the Devils and a regulation loss by Carolina against Tampa Bay tonight.

If they both get two or one or zero points, the Rangers are out. And if the Rangers lose in regulation to the Devils, they are out … hours before Carolina even gets to the arena.

By the way, Tampa Bay is the only team to beat Carolina in its last 10 games, but the Lightnings have nothing to play for tonight. And if the Rangers get in, they play Washington in the first round.

———————-

Here are today’s pre-game notes, courtesy of the NYR:

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. NEW JERSEY DEVILSSaturday, Apr. 9, 12:30 p.m.
Madison Square Garden • New York, NYRangers: 43-33-5 (91 pts)Devils: 37-38-5 (79 pts)* All information through NHL games on Apr. 7TODAY’S GAME:The Rangers will face-off against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden (12:30 p.m.), in their 2010-11 regular season finale. The Blueshirts currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings, and tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 43-33-5 (91 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having been defeated by the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-0, on Thursday at Madison Square Garden, and are now 10-4-1 in their last 15 contests. New York is 5-1-1 in their last seven games at MSG. The Devils enter the contest with a 37-38-5 (79 pts) record to rank 12th in the Eastern Conference, and have won three of their last five games.BROADCAST INFORMATION:TV: MSG Network
12:00 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show with Al Trautwig and Brian Leetch
12:30 p.m. – Rangers vs. Devils
Broadcasters: Sam Rosen (Play-By-Play), Joe Micheletti (Analyst), John Giannone (In-Game Reporter)Radio: 1050 ESPN Radio and newyorkrangers.com
12:00 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show
12:30 p.m. – Rangers vs. Devils
Broadcasters: Kenny Albert (Play-By-Play), Dave Maloney (Analyst)

RANGERS vs. DEVILS:

All-Time: 97-82-27-5 overall (53-29-20-2 at home, 44-53-7-3 on the road)

2010-11: Today is the sixth and final meeting this season, and the third at Madison Square Garden. New York is 3-2-0 thus far, including a 1-1-0 mark at MSG. Four of their five meetings have been decided by two goals or less, including two that were separated by one.

Last Season: New York was 3-2-1 overall and 1-1-1 at home. Five of their six meetings were decided by two goals or less, including two that required the shootout.

The Rangers rank 22nd with a 19-17-4 (42 pts) record at home; the Devils rank 26th with a 16-22-2 (34 pts) mark on the road

New York is 13-9-1 vs. the Atlantic Division; New Jersey is 11-11-1 against the Atlantic Division

Henrik Lundqvist is 21-9-5 with a 1.84 goals against average and five shutouts in 35 career regular season games vs. the Devils; Chad Johnson has yet to face the Devils

Vinny Prospal has registered a team-high, 21 assists and 32 points in 49 career regular season contests vs. New Jersey; Chris Drury leads the team with 13 goals in 41 career regular season games vs. the Devils

New York lists no former Devils on their roster

New Jersey lists no former Rangers on their roster

SPECIAL TEAMS:The Blueshirts have posted a plus-13 rating on special teams (PPG+SHG minus PPGA+SHGA) this season, which is tied for second in the league.

Power Play: The Rangers did not tally a goal in four power play opportunities (5:44) on Thursday vs. Atlanta, and are now 14-72 (19.4%) in their last 20 games. New York ranks 18th overall (49-290, 16.9%) and 16th at home (28-151, 18.5%). The Rangers are 5-15 (12:41) in five-on-three situations (last – 4/3 at PHI), and 0-7 (8:42) when four-on-three (last – 4/3 at PHI). Shorthanded goals allowed (5): 11/20 at MIN (Cullen); 12/5 vs. OTT (Kelly); 1/2 at FLA (Weiss); 1/16 vs. PHI (Richards); 3/20 at PIT (Kunitz).

SINCE 2007-08…The Rangers own a record of 16-7-2 vs. the Devils since the start of the 2007-08 season, including an 8-3-1 mark at Madison Square Garden during the stretch, dating back to a 2-0 win on Oct. 25, 2007. Henrik Lundqvist, who has started in each of the Rangers’ last 30 meetings with the Devils, has registered a 2.11 goals against average, a .924 save percentage and five shutouts in the 25-game stretch.

HEAD-TO-HEADHenrik Lundqvist has faced-off against Martin Brodeur in 29 career regular season contests, posting a record of 19-5-5 with a 1.81 goals against average, .932 save percentage and four shutouts over the span.

BACK-TO-BACKSThe Rangers competed in 18 back-to-back sets this season, posting a record of 10-7-1 (3-2-0 at home, 7-5-1 on the road) in the first game and 12-6-0 (5-2-0 at home, 7-4-0 on the road) in the second game of the set. New York out-scored their opponent, 50-35, in the second game. Over the last two seasons, New York is 21-8-2 in the back-end of back-to-back sets, including a 9-3-1 mark at MSG and 12-5-1 on the road over the span.

CLOSING TIMEThe Blueshirts are the only team in the NHL who are undefeated when leading after two periods, posting a record of 28-0-0 in those contests. The Rangers rank fourth in the league with a plus-21 goal differential in the third period (84 goals for, 63 goals against).

PLACE IN HISTORY:

The Rangers’ 43 wins are tied for seventh most in franchise history, one win shy of moving into a tie for sixth

The Blueshirts’ plus-13 rating on special teams is tied for 15th in team history

Henrik Lundqvist’s 35 wins are tied for seventh in Rangers’ history, one win shy of moving into a tie for sixth

THE PUCK STOPS HEREHenrik Lundqvist was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the period ending Mar. 27 after posting a 2-0-1 record, 0.32 GAA, .987 Sv% and two shutouts in three games. On Mar. 26, Lundqvist stopped 26 shots in a 1-0 victory at Boston to establish a new career-high with his league leading, 11th shutout of the season, while appearing in his 400th career game. His 11 shutouts are tied for second in team history for most shutouts in a season, and are the most by a Ranger since John Ross Roach posted 13 shutouts in 1928-29. He is now one of two active goaltenders with at least two seasons of 10+ shutouts (M. Brodeur – 4). Lundqvist also posted his 30th win of the season on Mar. 18 vs. Montreal to extend his NHL record by recording 30 or more wins in six consecutive seasons to begin his career, and extend his franchise record by posting his sixth straight 30-win season. Lundqvist established a new career-high by appearing in his 22nd consecutive contest (dating back to Feb. 11) on Mar. 31 at Long Island. Lundqvist has appeared in 25 straight games entering tonight’s contest.

40 WINSNew York won its 40th game of the season with a 1-0 victory vs. Florida on Mar. 22. It is the fifth time in the last six years the Rangers posted 40 or more wins in a season, marking only the second time in franchise history the team accomplished the feat (1968-69 – 1973-74). The Blueshirts are one of five Eastern Conference teams to have registered at least five seasons of 40+ wins since 2005-06 (Montreal, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh).

COMPARED TO LAST SEASON…The Rangers have posted five more wins and five more points compared to last season through 81 games (38-33-10, 86 points in 2009-10), having tallied seven more goals (228 this season, 221 last season) while allowing 20 fewer goals against (196 this season, 216 last season). New York has also shown a six-goal improvement while shorthanded compared to 2009-10 (11 this season, five last season).

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERSThe Rangers lead the league in hits (2,293), rank fourth in blocked shots (1,287), are tied for second in shootout wins (nine) and number of players with at least one GWG (18), fourth in shorthanded goals (11) and road wins (24), sixth in goals against (196), and sixth with a plus-32 goal differential.

THE HOT LIST:

Vinny Prospal has tallied 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in the last 20 games, including four points (three goals, one assist) in the last four contests

Henrik Lundqvist is 10-4-1 with a 2.11 GAA, .930 Sv% and three shutouts in the last 15 games

Couldn’t sleep, Carp? I thought you didn’t care :-)
Don’t worry, win or lose, NNs will show up either way.
I just want them to play against the Devils the way they’ve played all year, and I’ll consider this a successful season. And a big step forward.

I decided to not pay attention to the guesses and prognostications….just let it all happen, and if they do – they do -and if they don’t…then like the old Brooklyn Bums ( Dodgers to the kids) bring out their old song ” Wait’ll next year” when the Dodger Sjmm-Phony used to parade up and down the aisles of old Ebbetts Field with their base drum, their ooom-pah horns, and their raggedy clothes that made them all look like homeless.When baseball didn’t take itself so seriously, and you could get in and sit in the bleachers for 85 cents.

Those were the days my friends..when friendly discourse used to happen, despite the snide wisecracks, and a day at the park was fun without the drama and soul searching.

Rangers need to bring back a bit of that spontaneous gaiety and suck up the loss if that’s what happens, without recrimination and nastiness. If we win, be generous, and if we lose do it gracefully…..and “wait’ll next year.”

I learned something last night while following
Swords and Flyers……..about the Flyers. Most of you realize that when you watch the game, you fixate on your own team, and tend to watch the action from that perspective. Well last night the Flyers were my team and I watched the game as though I was watching Rangers, and I learned something about that team that surprised me.

They (Flyers)are a really good passing team. their passes are many, accurate, and their receivers are just as good..no bouncing off the blades of their sticks, and they caused much mayhem for a while, but then the Sabres got a totally unexpected stroke of good luck, and won the game within a heartbeat of the final whistle.

Another thing I noticed about them, I saw several players do this too, they don’t go for many long long passes ( as the Rangers love to use), but instead use many short close in crisp passes to one another in heavy going instead of looking for a long “get me outta here” pass.

One play in particular that I admired was when a Flyer was being checked in close to the boards, and he was facing the boards he simply took the puck and shot it hard but at a very slight angle at the opponent, so that the puck bounced off the boards, behind the opponent and out the other side where his Flyer team mate was waiting to collect it.. I bet that puck never traveled more than six feet in any direction, but it worked beautifully on several occasions. Folks, this is a very well coached team.

Its been a feel good season. I have way too much going on to post or even watch the game today but ill say this much. Win lose in or out we’ll all be here and ready to root yell moan and groan for this team as long as they’re around and we’re still breathing. Lgr.

This situation is a quandry, for me. I love Torts as coach, BUT, there is a real, major, problem with this team, on a technical and fundamental basis. And that is, the Rangers have a BETTER goals for – goals against ratio, and therefore should have a better won-lost record, than: Washington – Carolina – Buffalo and Montreal.

This is insane! I don’t know what the hockey break down is, but in baseball, over the course of a season, for every 10 runs you are superior to another team, the average is one extra win in the standings. What the above means is that the Rangers win blow-out games, more than any other team listed above, but also lose the close, one-goal games much more than the others. So that the Rangers are not a clutch team, the Rangers are a choker team. The Rangers are a net 31 goals better than Carolina, over the full season, and yet the Rangers will have to have some help in game 82 to beat Carolina out of a playoff spot!

Very discouraging, in that the ratio is the best indicator of a team’s talent level. So that this team is the ultimate UNDER-ACHIEVING team in the NHL, this year. I don’t quite know where to put the blame, coaching staff, players, or what? Just don’t know. All I know is that to miss the playoffs because you are not good enough to get in is bad, but to miss the playoffs when you are, on paper, better than four teams which qualified for the playoffs is intolerable.

Maybe the under-achieving situation reverts to the lack on on-ice leadership, the club’s inexcusable failure to address the Drury situation, and fix it. Drury contributed almost ZERO, on and off the ice, this year. Callahan picked up the slack, unofficially, but this team played like a team without a rudder or a compass, all year. Teams with a leader who steps up and takes charge win close games, thus we have the Mark Messier leadership qualities surfacing all over the place in the Stanley Cup winning year, by comparison with this year, and it’s “lost in the desert” pervasive team mentality. So let’s put it on the GM and the coach, equal blame, for this rudderless drifting and questionable sense of purpose. One saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” How about: “If it is broke, dammit, fix it!” Management just sat on its collective ass and did nothing to fix a situation which could now under-mine the entire season and a lot of work and sweat of the part of a lot of dedicated players.

a span of 161 days in the top 8 going back to october 29th. what a freaking disgrace to fall out now. this season is so much more deflating then last year. they CHOKED COLLAPSED whatever freaking word you want to use

there is a better chance my 2 month old boy will start walking tonight then carolina losing tonight.

“What the above means is that the Rangers win blow-out games, more than any other team listed above, but also lose the close, one-goal games much more than the others. So that the Rangers are not a clutch team, the Rangers are a choker team.”

Sorry, Boom Boom, but your logic doesn’t hold any water. This team has the best winning record in the league when leading at the start of the third period. That doesn’t qualify for chokers. One goal games? Vancouver, Boston- just of the top my head. Sometimes simple math doesn’t show the real picture.

I’m hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. I’m sure if the Hurricanes get in I’ll be bombarded when I go play Sunday evening (in Raleigh).

Re: Boom Boom’s post. To all the people that say, well I didn’t expect them to make the playoffs before the season so if they don’t make it it’s no big deal – this team under achieved. That’s right. I didn’t expect much when the season began, but this team was in the playoffs and couldn’t win a game against Ottawa, Buffalo, the Islanders and Atlanta. That’s underachieving.

And, the fact that they won against division winners Philly and Boston shows that they have the ability. It’s disappointing no matter what your expectations were at the start of the season.

I tend to post more when they lose but for this one time only, I want to take a positive tone. This has indeed been a successful season for many reasons. For one thing, we won 43 games so far against 33 losses. Those are good numbers for a rebuilding young team. Several young vets and first and second year players have taken major steps forward in their development. We are all excited about guys like Stepan, Sauer,MCD, MZA. We also are thrilled with how the young vets like Dubi, Staal, Cally have assumed the leadership roll away from the mercinaries like Drury. Than there is the emergence of Prust and Doyle. Two players who have clearly been playing hurt now for some time and follow the motto of “it’s just pain”. There are a lot of things to look forward to. kids like Kreider, Hagelin, Thomas,Werek, Mcilrath, Grachev still, Vtank, Pashnin, and of course Mdz who I think will come on strong next year. The draft is coming up and that is something to look forward to since Goodies Clark has taken the reins away from the incompetent Sather. Hank is still good for another 4-5 years at his prime. We are really close to becoming a contender. What we are missing is two scoring forwards, two defensemen who can shoot the puck from the point (Mdz could be one) and some seasoning for the young players.

Overall, I have a much better feeling about white we are this season than after last years debacle in Philly at the end.

The one thing that would make things even better is if Sather would step down.

Almost forgot. To those people who want Torts gone, what’s wrong with you! He is the first coach that this organization who dos not only give lip service to the notion of playing the kids, but actually does it! This is something that most of us have wanted from a coach in like forever.

ilb – I agree. If the Rangers can win today – in a must win – against the neutral zone trapping Devils – I will consider the day a success. Control what we can and do a darn good job of it. That is success.

You guys are really pushing for the wrong thing if you want torts gone. You should all be pushing for Sather to go instead. He is the main culprit I. Why the franchise has had so much futility in the last eleven years! This fool has come up with one first round pick in the lineup (Staal) out of 14 first founders! Even if you give him a pass on Blackburn (would have been great) and Cherepanov. That is still one first founder out of twelve. Pathetic!!!!!

Don’t worry ladies and gents for I am watching neither game ( the rangers or the hurricanes) today. Rangers win in regulation for sure. Canes lose in a shootout to pay us back for last year. Like pia toscano I have premonitions too. More likely is the premonition that if I watch either game today my wife divorces me and takes the kids. LET’S GO RANGERS!!!!!

Czech – I love Torts. I think every fan of this team should. He’s a proven, great coach. Sather I couldn’t care less whether he was part of the team. Let Torts be handle that end as well as coaching. I think the guy that has to go is J. Dolan. That would save two teams. I know it’s impossible but it would be nice.

Look, I want them to make the playoffs, no question. But not because that will give them a chance to win the SC. Realistically- they can’t. Not this year. And I want them to make the playoffs not because I can text my former NJ neighbors and brag. I dont care. I want the young core to have that invaluable experience. Nothing substitutes playing in big games. And honestly, there is another thing that I’m worried about. If they don’t, I’m afraid this organization will revert to the same old, knee-jerk reaction and trade away their young players, fire the coach, just to get in the playoffs next year. It is in the back of my mind, ever so slightly. But seeing what they’ve done so far, I don’t believe it will happen.

And counting on the lightning to beat Carolina is really that much better? If this team is allegedly so much better than last years team, then why are they in a an even worse position before game 82? Go on about the youth all you want, it’s still another year with no playoffs. Different formula, same result. If they don’t get in this year, I’m done paying to watch them play for a while.

Hey I am realistic. I am just as frustrated by possibly not making the playoffs as anyone. But you can’t objectively look at where we are today to where we were last year on the last day of the season and not be optimistic.

Many- I am not being a polyana believe me. I have been posting on this blog since Sam Weineman started it. Many posters on this blog can attest to the fact that no has been tougher on this management than me. I can’t stand Sather and I hated the hyena Tom Renney and his double talk and incompetence from day one.
But I just think that the direction of the team is finally on the right path. Only one thing would make not making the playoffs this season bearable. That would be if Sather would ne gone!

That is the case in life, in general. We tune in the news to hear about crime, war, death and other people’s dirty laundry. I heard the Islanders had their first sellout of the season last night. Their fans were anticipating something bad to happen between Islanders and Penguins.

2000-2011 equals eleven seasons which is what I said. And he had 12 number one picks only one is in the lineup that is inexcusable. Several of those picks were high enough to have picked up high end talent like Mike Richards, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry and Zach Parise.

Yes, Jagr was the difference in the brief playoff era. Sather is of course the main culprit. How many decades is this rebuild going to last? Funny how other teams can go from last to first so much quicker.

rewriting history already. if they made the playoffds it would have been a good season. since they are not it has been a waste. yes some young guys have got chances and some players have improved but they choked. l’s to islanders, atl, and 1 point to the senators down the stretch. sugarcoat it all you want maryann gaborik fans they choked and he came up zherdev small…

the guy has come up zherdev small. for all the drunks sorry sounds like no seanie today. they would have won today just if they played seanie over 10 minutes that is the key to the ranger success. playing a moron with no defensive skills and who cannot hit the side of a arn more minutes……….

avery sucks, gaborik is a loser, most of the homegrown guys at least care and try… this team is a team of 8 low 20 goal scorers and that is it.. not a premium scorer on the whole team.

Win or lose, I still love this team. I’ve been waiting over a decade to be able to say that. I might need to wait some more for some other things I’d like to say, but this is a good start. Let’s Go Rangers!!!!!

good job, billybleeds…the season is a success despite what our playoff fate is this season…This year is not about the cup…it is about embracing youth and making a real team that you can root for…we just needs to prune a few rotten apples and acquire the key missing parts…we are close to becoming a contender in the next couple of seasons…

Carp – is this an elaborate ruse? IS Drury really gonna play for Avery? In game 82? SERIOUSLY? Eminger out and Gilroy IN? I really cant believe that one either – although I guess Gilroy has a better shot from the point than Eminger.

Your thread last week of “I’am done ….” now does not really make much sense. At the time, I has to agree with you, but standing here today I am thinking more like the sky is falling in …. AND now that I see that Drury will make a start and Avery wont – against the Devils, where Avery has proved time and again to be a potent weapon vs. Lou’s Devs, this is UNBELIEVEABLE. And, as you know, I am no Avery fan – i have said we need to trade him all year long.

So – I am not even sure I can stand watching this game – I am way to tense, and I am way to pessimistic to even consider it. I really cant believe what is happening today OR who has been designated to play.

However, rest assured Boneheads – the Dolans are gonna still be counting their money, just like every year.

well i think one thing is for sure. if we lose this game in regulation, the fans will surely let their disappointment be known, the boo birds will be out…last year it wasnt possible because game was in Philly, but today it will surely be known…that is if they can separate themselves from their blackberries and iPhones.

IMO they are spent. Too tired to keep the compete level high enough. They have competed so hard so often. This team is different from years past. This was nit a choke job or a case of spitting the bit. The gas tank is empty. They have been running on fumes. I really hope that they can muster the strength and give themselves a chance for help tonight. I really enjoyed the team this year. A pleasure to watch no matter the final result.

Still believe in Gaborik. Terrible year and terrible few games down the stretch. But I hope that a summer of rehab makes a difference. For those calling for trade. His value is too low to make it make sense.

I am also torn about Richards. I was all about it. But nit so much right now. But my season ain’t over yet. Let’s go Rangers. One more win. “you can do it” said with bad “Mexican” Rob Schneider accent.

I was never negative even though people viewed it that way. I didn’t think this team was good enough to make the playoffs. It’s good the rangers have young players developing and young players establishing themselves but as long as Sather is GM the rangers will never be a contender. Ranger fans should be worried because after the rangers are officially knocked out of the playoffs today Sather in the off season will sign another huge bad contract and the same old garbage continues.

News flash: If the Rangers win, the Canes still have to play a successful 60 minutes (or more) against a solid TB side. Given the Rangers’ limited skill set and obviously fragile psychological makeup, isn’t it much better for them to play first today?

Being Ranger fans (clinical), we tend to assume the worst. Our team’s history requires us to assume the worst. But, hockey teams lose games they should probably win every day. The Canes will have enormous (self-imposed) pressure in their own building tonight. Given their great stretch run and the Rangers’ exhausted stumbles, they SHOULD win.

Tampa is not the shameful Winnipeg Thrashers. They will have to be beaten. They will not practice rolling over on the cusp of the playoffs. The Bolts and their young coach all know that good teams play good all the time. You can’t turn it on and off like a light switch. And they have the ambition to be a great team soon. A great team will beat the Canes in these circumstances. I hope Tampa Bay is serious about becoming a great franchise.